BRAVE NEW SCHOOLS

Parents defend boy's make-up on campus

Students chooses not to label his sexual orientation

Published: 06/10/2013 at 12:40 PM

(TAMPA BAY TIMES) — ST. PETERSBURG — After years of struggling to feel comfortable in his own skin, Chris Martin — who chooses not to label his sexual orientation — decided to wear black eyeliner, eyeshadow and lipstick on the 14-year-old’s last day in the eighth grade.

But as soon as he got to Meadowlawn Middle School on Wednesday, administrators told Martin he was violating the dress code. They wanted him to change his shirt and wipe off the makeup.

The two women who raised Martin said they understand why the shirt’s image — an anarchy symbol and sheath — was against the dress code. But the parents said the modest makeup was no different than what girls wear everyday.